Best available copy



Patenbd Aug. 19, 1919.

(M \INVENT R M fins ATTORNEY F. w. BUCK.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED QCT. 30.1918. 1,313,463.

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FRANK W. BUCK, OF DE KALIB, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed October 80, 1918. Serial No. 260,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. BUCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of De Kalb, Dekalb county, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Signals, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automobile signals, and its principal object is to provide an improved signal, operable from a place adjacent the drlvers seat, for warning persons in front of the automobile or behind it that the driver intends to deviate from the present course which he is drivin Another object is to provide an automoblle signal which is simple to operate, both in displaying the signal and returning it to inactive position. It is well knownthat in turning corners, the driver finds it quite important to have both hands free to manipulate the steering wheel and speed lever and that, a signal whichcan be set instantly and automatically locked in set position, has certain advantages, because it leaves the driver free to manage his automobile except for the instant that he manipulates the signal. A signal in which the signaling means can be instantly released from such locked position has rticular advantages. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a signal which can be operated instantly in setting the same or in releasing the signaling means. Another object is to provide a si al in which the si aling means may be ilfui ninated, whereby it will be plainl visible to persons in front and behind e automobile.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed:

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:-

Figure 1, 1s a side elevationof automo bile signal embodying a simple form of the present invention, showing the same attached to a fragment of an automobile body, which is shown in cross section. Fig. 2, is an end view of the parts seen in Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 2; Fig 3, is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig 1, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4+4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, which illustrates a simple embodimmt of the present invention, the reference character 10, designates a support which may comprise the body of an automobile, for instance the side thereof adjacent the drivers seat. The signal is detachably mounted on said support, and is arranged to fit on most all, if not all, automobile bodies.

A bracket 11, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and doubled upon itself, to provide perforated ears 12, is employed for pivotally supporting an arm 13, which is provided at its outer end with a figure, representing a hand, or other indicator 14. The two halves 15, 16 of the bracket extend down from the ears 12, to the top of the support 10, and thereat they are bent to extend in opposite directions to form horizontal flanges as at 17, 18, and their end ortions are bent downward to form side anges, as at 19, 20, which are adapted to engage with the sides of the support 10. The side flanges 19, 20 are clamped upon the support by bolts 21, which extend through the parts 15, 16 and have nuts upon their threaded ends. If desired, additional securing means in the form of screws 22, may be used in fastening the bracket to the sup T e upper end of the bracket, where the cars 12, are located, is forked to receive the arm 13, and a pivot pin 12", extends through said ears and t rough the arm, and pivotally connects the arm with the bracket. The inner end of the arm is short as compared with its outer end and is formed with a handle 23, by means ofwhich the long end of the arm may be quickly raised to signaling position.

i A pawl or detent 24, is pivotall carried by the short end of the arm an extends down throughslots 25, 26, formed in a guide member 2Z,-which, conveniently, may comprise an end portion of thefian e 20, which is bent upwardly, then curved ack toward the flange 18, and secured to it by rivets or otherwise. The pawl or detent is provided with a shoulder 28, which, when the arm is raised in signaling position, engages with the underside of the part 29 of the guide, and holds said arm in its raised position. A spring 30, secured to the guide member and bearing against the pawl yieldingly presses the pawl in a direction to engage said shoulder with the underside of the part 29, whenever the arm is raised to signaling position.

If desired, the hand or other indicating figure 14, may contain an opening in which is secured a band 32. Glass panels or lenses 33, are secured te the edges of said band which panels or lenses may be colored red. An electric lamp socket 34, is sccurwd in the casing formed by the band, and glass panels, ng uppo ts 1 eeecdescen p bul 35- uonvenien't y, the socket may be securec upon the end of the arm 1L3, which may be tubular, and which may extend into the 021s ing formed between the band and glass panels. The figure 14, may be formed of sheet metal, shaped up to simulate a hand and the wrist portion 86, may be soldered or otherwise secured to the arm 13. The finger portion 8 7, may be flat and extends in a vertical direction in line with the centerof the arm. Openings 38, are formed in the band adjacent the flat portion 37, of the hand, which openings ma. be covered with transparent panels 85 t rough which light from the ianip issues and illuminates the flat portion of the hand. Preferably the hand is painted or enameled white, so that it may e clearly visible at night as well as during the daytime.

Secured to the bracket 11 andnrm 18, but insulated therefrom are snake and break con tact pieces 89, 40, the contact pieces-39, rheing Wircdto the lam socket and the contact i'eces 49, being wired to suitable source ofe ectric ener y, as for instance an electric battery so as is usually carried by an automobile. I

A spring lip 41, is secured to the flange 19, of the supper-tin line wioh'the arm 13, and receives and retains the arm when it is permitted to fall from its raised position, and a prin bufler 4 2, is secured to said flange receives the impact or the arm when dropped. The spning'clip and'bufier may struck upfrom sheet metal and riveted or otherwise secured tothe bnacket.

' In operation the 13, nbnndlly: depends firomthe 'vot pi'n lfi as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1', and 'is'hield in place by the spring clip 41, withthe handle 23 in conwenient position to be manipulated by the driver. Wishin to warn persons of his intention to turn, s acken in "or etop,'=the driver'bri-ngs his hand down ponthehand'le 23, and presses it' downward, thereby raising e armllfi, and indicator 14. The spring 36) continually esses the pew! or detent 'totlie'e of the slot Q25, and as the shoulder 28, o thesaid'pawl passes the edge, the spring 'Iorees it underneath the art 29. when the handle is releasedg'the s milder, by rea n of its engagement with the art 29 hol s the grim in raised position. 't'is to be bserved that the handle can be depressed in an instant, thereby leaving the driver free to manipulate the steering wheel and speed lever. A ter the driver hasturned or specded u or has stopped, he no ves the pawl 24, out of engagement with t e part 25),nnd the arm 13 falls by gravity to its inact ve pos tion where it is arrested by the buffer 42, and grasped by the spring clip ii.

The electric circuit between the contact pieces 39, 4:0, and battery or other source of electricity may have a switch (not shown) t crein and when the circuit is closed, the lamp is whenever the contact pieces 39 contact with the contact pieces 40, thus when the arm reaches its raised position, the corn tact pieces 39, 40, complete the circuit through the lamp and the hand 14:, is thereby illuminated, vwhereby it is made visible in the-dark as Well as the light. The circuit is broken, the moment the arm is dropped.

It is to be observed that the signal is reversible, that is to say, it may be secured at Ithelefit or right hand side of the automobile' to accommodate a left or right hand side drive can More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; 1 desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, rfiO point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An automobile signal, comprising a bracket, an-arm pivotally supported on said bracket to swing in a vertical plane irom an inactive position to and from a raised horizontal position, and having an indicating device at its outer end, and a. handle at its inner end, said outer end bei longer and heavier than its inner end, mi? a pawl pivotally secured to said arm and having a shoulder arranged to engage with said bracket when the arm is in raised position to thereby releaswbly hold said arm' in raised position, said pawl being releasable independentl of the handle.

2. An automobile signal, comprising a bracket arranged to be secured to an automobile body, a, vertically swinging arm pivotaflly supported on said bracket to swing a lan transverse to the length of the automobile body, from an inactive osi-tion to and from a raised horizontal position, said am having a' long outer portion provided with an indicating device at its end and a short inner portion provided with a handle, and a spring pressed pawl, pivotally secured to the short 'end'fof said arm and ha a shouiderermnged to engage withsai racket when the arm is in raised ositionto thereby releasably hold said arm nra ised os1tion,sai awl being releasable independ ,ntly'of. the li andlc; l

3. An automobile si 211, comprising a bra ket, having a slotte guide, an arm pivot'a ly sir erred on'said bracket to swing "in avertical ram fror'n'an inactive position to and from a raised horizontal position and having an indicating device at its outer end and a handle at its inner end, and a spring pressed pawl pivotally secured to said arm and extendin through the slots of said guide and having a shoulder arranged to engage with said guide when the arm is in raised position to thereby releasably hold said arm in raised position, said pawl being releasable independently of the handle.

4. An automobile signal, comprising a bracket, having a clamp for detachably securing it to the body of an automobile, an arm pivotally supported on said bracket to swing in a vertical plane from an inactive position to and from a raised horizontal position, and havin an indicating device at its outer end, an a handle at its inner end, said outer end being longer and heavier than its inner end and a pawl pivotally secured to said arm and having a shoulder arranged to engage with said bracket when the arm is in raised position to thereby releasably hold said arm in raised position, said pawl being releasable independently of the handle.

5. An automobile signal, comprising a bracket arranged to be secured to an automobile body and having a s ring clip and spring buffer on its outer si e, an arm pivoted to said bracket and having a signaling device upon its outer end and arranged to be releasa'bly held by said spring clip, and a awl pivotally connected to said arm for reeasa'bly holdlng it in raised indicating position.

6. An automobile signal, comprising a bracket, an arm pivotally supported between its ends on said bracket to swing in a pivotal plane from an inactive position to and fmm a raised horizontal position and having an indicating device at its outer end, and a handle at its inner end, said outer end bein longer and heavier than its inner end, an a spring pressed pawl pivotally secured to the inner end of said arm and having a shoulder arranged to en age said bracket when the arm is in rais position to thereby positively but releasably hold said am in raised position, said pawl being capable of being manually swung out of engagement with said bracket.

FRANK V. BUCK.

Ooplen 0! thin patent my be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patents, Walhinmn, D. 0. 

